Well equipment



July 9, 1940. sQv. DILLoN 2,207,001

' WELL EQUIPMENT v Filed oct. 11, 1957 zsheets-sheet 1' ATTORNEY f YPatentedJuly 9, 1940 WELL EQUIPMENT Stephen V. Dillon, Tulsa, Okla.

Application October 11, 1931,- Serial No. 168,485

6 Claims.

This application is a continuation-impart -of my application Serial No.27,788, filed June 21, 1935, Patent No. 2,095,244.

The invention relates to improvements in well equipment and moreYparticularly to novel packing means for obstructing the space betweenthe well string and the bore-of a well.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide improvedpacking means comprising a source of pressure fluid arranged in closeproximity to an expansible element, for the purpose of inflating suchelement after the packing means has been introduced by the wellstringinto the well, to obstruct 'the space between the -well string andthe bore ofthe well.

Another object is to furnish means for'such purpose comprising a devicefor controlling the ination and deflation of the expansible element bymovement of the well string relativelyto the expansible element. -f

A further object is to supply packing means of duplex character so thatone expansible element may be positioned on the well stringabove anoil-bearing or gas producing strata and another 25 may be positionedbelow said strata.

A still further object is to provide a device of the aforementioned kindcombined with novel means for controlling the admission of iiuids intoand the discLarge of fluids out of a tubular section of the well string.

With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view whichwill appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in thenovel features hereinafter described in detail, i1- lustrated in theaccompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an improved packing means andvalve structure forming part of my novel well equipment.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are horizontal sectional views taken respectively onthe lines 2-2, 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a modification of oneof the packing assemblies.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the same.

Figs. 7 and 8 are horizontal sectional views taken respectively onthelines 1-1 and 8-8 of Fig. 5.

In the embodiment of the invention shown-in lgs. l to 4, inclusive, I3and I4 designate expansible packing elements of the inflatible anddeflatible type and each of these elements may be in the form of ahollow ball made of a rubber lining I5 coated on its exterior with anysuitable protecting means such as a coat I6 of synthetic rubber orThiokol.

Each ball surrounds an auxiliary or outer tube I1, the inner surface ofwhich snugly engages the outer surface of a section I8 of the tubingstring, l and to prevent any leakage, clamping rings I9 ar i 20 engagethe ends of the ball. The ring I9 clamps one end of each ball to theauxiliary tube, while the ring 20 clamps the opposite end of the ball toa casing 2|, 22. These casings are 'reversed l in reference to theexpansible packing elements .and the casing 2| is preferably arrangedabove its ball while the casing 22 is preferably arranged Vbelow itsball. This arrangement permits a shot hole 23 or the like in oil orgas-producing strata to u be segregated from the bore of the Well aboveand below the shot hole and consequently if treating acid or the like isintroduced into the shot hole, it will be prevented bythe expansiblepacking elements from coming in contact with the casings 2 I, 20 22 andother parts which are preferably made of metal. I

The casingsor chambers are designed 'to contain sources or supplies ofan expansible medium, such as dry ice, and after the tubing string has25 been lowered into the well, valves 24 and 25 controlling ports 26 and21 in the chambers can be opened to permit gas released .from thegasproducing medium in the chamber, to enter the balls for the purposeof inflating the balls and 30 causing theml to form obstructions betweenthe tubing string and the bore of the well.

For the purpose of controlling the valves, each valve may be normallyheld in closed position by a coil spring 28. These springs surround the35 stems, 29, 30 of the respective valves. As shown in Fig. l, thespring surrounding the stem 28 may have' one end Abearing'against anabutment 3| on the stem, and its other end bearing against one end ofthe casing 2|, while the spring sur- 40 rounding the stem 30 may bear atone end upon an end of the casing 32 and vat its other end against thehead of valve 25.

The valve stems are simultaneously operated to release gas from thechambers 2| 22 .into the 45 balls, by means of cam discs 32 and 33(fixed tc the section I8 of the tubing string) and this is accomplishedwhen the tubing string is lowered relatively to the auxiliary tube I1.

-As it will be necessary to deflate the balls in order to raise thetubing string, each of the chambers 2 I, 22 is provided with a releasevalve 34, 35. Each of these valves is normally held seated by a spring36 and one of the valve stems has a hook 31 at its 'outer end. Thesevalve stems cooperate 55 with the cam discs 32 and 33, and when the camdiscs are in certain positions and turned, cam surfaces on these discswill engage the stems of valves 34, 35, and open the release valves. Itis necessary at such time that the valves 24 and 25 be held open so asto release gas not only from the balls into the chambers but from thechambers to the atmosphere, and consequently the discs 32 and 33 are soarranged as to hold the valves 24 and 25 open while the cam surfaces o nthe discs are actuating the valves 34,- 35, due to the turning movementof the discs by the well string. Each cam disc has a cut-out sector 38(Fig. 4) to permit the discs to clear the valve stems 3l and 39 when thetubing string is moved downwardly relatively to the auxiliary tube I1.

Each of the chambers 2|, 22 is rigidly secured to the auxiliary tube I1and in order to prevent this auxiliary tube from moving during themanipulation of the tubing string for control purposes, the auxiliarytube may be rigidly linked to the lower end of a lock wedge block shownin myabove-mentioned application Serial No. 27,788. For example, athreaded sleeve 40 can rigidly connect the casing 2| to the flange 4| atthe lower end of a sleeve 42 and the upper end of this sleeve can berigidly secured to said wedge block of the tubing lock by any suitablemeans not shown. Perforations 43 in the collar` 40 permit the escape ofgas that is vented through the upper release valve 34.

If desired, bow springs 44 can be positioned on the sleeve 40 tofrictionally engage the bore of the well and p revent movement of thesurrounding elements while the tubing string section I8 is beingmanipulated.

In Figs. to 8, inclusive, I have illustrated a much more practical formof the dry ice chamber and expansible element. For example, as shown inthese iigures, one end plate 45 of the casing may be of steppedformation to form an annular rabbet 4 to receive one end of. the ball 41and this end plate can be clamped to the stepped end plate of the'casingby any suitable clamping means 48. The end plate 45 of the casingsurrounds the auxiliarytube 49 .and a packing gasket 50 and packinggland 5| are used where the joint' is located. y

The body of the chamber in this example may consist of a short section52 of pipe, 'the ends of which will extend into annular grooves 53 inthe end plates 45 and 54. Bolts 55 which pass through apertures-in theend plates may be employed to hold the partsl in assembled relation, anda packing gasket 56 and packing gland5'| can be used where the plate 54surrounds the auxiliary tube.

For the purpose of permitting well uid to readily ilow into the tubingstring while the tubing string in my equipment is being lowered into thewell, the tubing string is preferably provided, as shown in Fig. 1, witha port 58 that may register with a port 59 in the auxiliary tube l1. Theauxiliary tube has a second lower port 60' positioned below the port 59and at a point spaced about forty-ve degrees from the port 59.Consequently when the tubing string is turned to set a tubing catcher ortubing lock (not shown) or both of them, and the tubing is then loweredso as to lock the tubing against either .downward or upward movement,the port 58 will be brought into register with the port BIJ with theresult that well fluid can then travel into the tubing string throughthe ports 60 and 58.

When the ports 58 and' 60 are in registration,

well ud can not only enter the tubing string but treating agents o r thelike can be introduced into the well through the tubing string and eventhough this treating medium is hintroduced under relatively highpressures, it will not disturb the position of the tubing string, as thetubing stop and tubing lock (shown in application Serial No. 27,788)will prevent upward or downward movement of the tubing string, and theexpansible packing elements I3 and |4 will confine the treating mediumto the shot hole or the like, and will prevent it from moving upwardlyor downwardly in the bore of the well.

As it sometimes happens that liquid will gather in the well above thepacking means and interfere with the removal of the parts, I provide thetubing string with a second port 6| (Fig. 1) which is adapted tocooperate with a port 62 in the pipe 42. When the tubing string islowered relatively to the auxiliary tube I1 without being turned, theport's 8| and 62 come into register and this permits liquid gathering inthe well above the upper packing element I4 to be pumped up the wellthrough the tubing string.

lFrom the foregoing it will be understood that I have combined with atubing string, a novel packing means controlled by relative movement ofthe tubing string. If the improved packing means is employed incombination with the tubing stop and lock, shown in my applicationSerial No. 27,788, the tubing string will be locked against eitherupward or downward movement, and consequently the packing means willbeheld stationary and pressure conditions within the well will not disturbthe position of the tubing string.

For purposes'of illustration, I have shown the well string as a stringof tubing, but it is obvious that the packing means can also be employedwith a rod string or a well string partially ofv rod string andpartially of tubing.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction, operation andadvantages of the invention will be readily understood by those skilledin the art. I am aware that changes may be made in the details disclosedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in theclaims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Packing means for wells, comprising an iniiatable and delatableelement adapted to surround a Well string, a container positioned in theWell and adapted to store a source of pressure medium, a passagewayplacing the interior of the container in communication with the interiorof the iniiatable and defiatableelement, a valve for controlling saidpassageway, a vent port for said container, and a valve controlling saidvent port.

2. The combination with a well string arranged in the bore of a well, ofa plurality oi'. packing means surrounding the wellstring and adapted toobstruct the ow of iluid between the well string and the bore of theWell, each of said means comprising an inflatable and deflatableelement, each element being provided with a passageway for introducing apressure fluid into the same, pressure fluid generating and storingmeans arranged on the Well string and communicating with the interior ofthe elements through said ports, and means for controlling said ports.

3. The combination with a well string arranged 'in the bore of a well,of. an inatable and deflatable element surrounding the well string andobstructing the passage of rluid between the well string and the bore ofthe well, means for generating and storing a pressure fluid arranged onsaid well string, and controllable means for introducing the pressurefluid into said element and for discharging the pressure fluid from saidelement. 1

4. The combination with a well string arrange in the bore of a Well, ofa pressure fluid generating and storing means arranged on the Wellstring and including a container having a plurality of. dischargeportsan inflatable and deatable packing element surrounding the Wellstring and adapted to obstruct the passage of fluid between the Wellstring and the bore of the Well, one of said discharge ports leadinginto said element for iniiating the latter, and means for controlling,the passage of said pressure fluid through said ports.

I 5. In equipment of the character described,` a rod like elementadapted to be inserted in a well, an inatable and deatable membersurrounding said element and adapted to close the space in the wellbetween said element and the bore of the well, a pressure medium storagemember carried by said element, means for leading pressure medium fromthe storage member into said inatable and deflatable member, means forcontrolling the last mentioned means, said control means being actuatedby relative movement between sad element and one of said members.

6. In equipment of the character described, a

rod-like element adapted to be inserted in a well,

an iniiatable and deflatable member surrounding said element and adaptedto close the space in the well between said element andthe bore of theWell, a pressure medium storage reservoir carried by said element, meansfor leading pressure medium from the reservoir. into said member,

means for anchoring the member in the Well to allow the rod-like elementto be moved relatively to said member while the latter remains instationary position, a valve for controlling the passage o'f uid fromthe reservoir to said member, and means actuated by relative movementbetween said element and member for controlling said valve.

. STEPHEN V. DILLON.

